Sounds like a good buy, fingers crossed for the MOT. I've always fancied a Panda 4x4

Me too, great fun to bounce off the limiter.

Pretty sure you could drive it wearing a top hat too!!

At least you know the work will have been done when you do it... (Cynical? Me?)

Well, it seems that the Panda needs a few bits and bobs - new wishbones and a prop-shaft bush, new brake discs and most of a new exhaust. Nothing too terrible.

I'd also like to get a new sump guard, but I'm inclined to have one fabricated, as the OEM one looks like it was made out of puff pastry. Rotten and almost disintegrated.

On the inside, I love the basic feel, but I would dearly like to fit a new head unit. The factory one is dreadful, not least because it occupies a double-din sized space, yet offers no AUX/USB connectivity or a DAB (though I can forgive this, given the car's age!) and the sound is bobbins.
There are no steering wheel controls or fancy OBC to worry about, so hopefully it should be plug and play (possibly with an adapter).

I don't want to spend a fortune, but I'd like a touch-screen if possible, as the space is there. I'm not even bothered about CDs - just DAB/radio and connectivity with phone, etc.
I'm not a brand junkie, so cheap Chinese could be an option...

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I have a Chinese jobby which I bought for another car and never used,just powered up on the desk and that’s all.
Drop me a pm if you want Jim.

Sat nav, sd card, usb etc. You will have to get a suitable cage surround but ready to go. Have a brand new motor now will all the toys so won’t be used. Even better it’s standard iso connector.

Like this one
Link

That looks pretty much what I'm after, Reuben. Does it have DAB though, or just radio? DAB is a deal-breaker for me...

Second hand car stereos lose a lot of value. This JVC is starting at £20 and seems to meet your requirements. Also worth checking local gumtree.

Welcome to panda 4x4 land!
Custed is one of the better cars I bought of late and has been really rather well liked... and hated.

Would you like to see what wins in a tug of war?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weHTavY18bk

I enjoyed the SFII reference! Did you do it the other way around Sam?

I'm absolutely loving it, Sam! She's got her new ChipsAway decals, looking fine. Do you have any good tips about where to get info, etc?

There is a fiat panda facebook group thats really good. Quite a few of us older panda drivers have new ones as well.
If you are on fb pm me username and I'll add you.

I need to do it the other way around... the mk1 wasn't running right as well so maybe ect weekend!

No dab on these Chinese units I’m afraid. going need to stick to a big brand for a dab system Jim.

That's frustrating, Reuben! But you're right. Presumably, there's a USB DAB dongle or some such that can be added? How much would you want for the head unit?

I really don’t think you can Jim. What I have done previously on another unit is connect my phone to it and played tunein radio app through the unit.

Will pm you a price, as say never been fitted just tested on the bench.

Thanks, Reuben. Maybe an app is the way forward.

I decided to forego the touch screen and opted for another Pure Highway single DIN head unit. The DAB+ on the one I bought for the coupé was brilliant - way better than the factory for one in my Transporter.
Thanks for everyone's help, as ever...

Based on an aborted trip to Cirencester from Stroud this morning, I now think buying this little Panda may have been the shrewdest vehicle move I've ever made!
Sadly, we had to turn back as the road was blocked by immobilised trucks, but the Panda was amazing!

Stay safe, you fccuck_ers.

The feeling of smugness as you leave all the BMW and Mercs stuck in the snow must be overwhelming Jim !

The little Panda coming into its own.

I certainly felt for the driver of a very nice Maserati as he attempted a roundabout. His paasenger was covering her eyes!

My Merc never gets stuck. Shod in winter tyres, it’s a match for most things in snow depths that roads stays open.

But I’d imagine the Panda is very good.

Yeah, I'm talking about the average RWD vehicle. My Bongo is RWD, so not expecting good snow performance... Until I get the winter boots fitted.

Bought a replacement for the Bravo yesterday. Four ditchfinder specials on it, naturally - snow tyres ordered but I can't get them until Wednesday.

So today, six inches of global warming fell on our head. It was interesting, but not impossible (although people seemed to be having difficulty with a flat car park for some reason.)

Reminds me of my visit to Norway several years back with most having 2 complete set of tyres, with the winter set of the studded variety. Are these sold/allowed in the UK?

I'm pretty sure studded tyres are not legal in the UK.

No studded tyres on motor vehicles. I have studded tyres for my MTB that I used for my winter cycling commutes - they are fabulous. I think Scandinavia spent/spends a fortune on road repairs. I don’t know if they still use studs.

Many parts of Europe have mandatory winter tyres. It makes sense because they are amazing. Our first winter in Scotland, I couldn’t get the Merc off the (level) drive in snow - just utterly refused to shift on standard Summer tyres. With winter tyres, it just went everywhere, including up some steep icy slopes - without the traction light even blinking.

We have to remember that summer tyres have been progressively pushed towards the performance end of the spectrum so designers have dropped any pretence of providing winter ability. The compounds however, are usually fine at low temps but the tread design is completely unsuitable for ice and snow. Look at some of the youtube videos of 4wd vs winter tyres for some light entertainment. 4wd is great for getting going but turning and stopping is still down to the tyres. Once you have driven in bad conditions with winter tyres you will think many times before attempting the same again with summer tyres.

Quite.

Though I wrote off a Bravo a couple of weeks ago in snow - a choice between an oncoming vehicle in the middle of the road and a ditch - the snow tyres meant I was able to steer and slide along the ditch/rock face instead of meeting it head on.

The replacement Bravo has a complete mismatched set of ditchfinders which have made the last couple of days, um, interesting - but by Wednesday afternoon it will have snow tyres on.

Steering the discussion back to the Panda - she went through her MOT today with the requisite work on the brakes and lower suspension arms having been carried out.
Advisories on 2 front coil springs and rust on the anti-roll bar.

The other thing that will need replacing relatively soon is the exhaust. Apparently they are not easy to get from 3rd party suppliers and they cost a fair bit from Fiat. I would love to get a stainless one as the big back box runs transversally (and quite visibly) right across the back of the car. This is unique to the 4x4, owing to the prop-shaft and rear diff eating up the room used by the FWD exhaust. Does anyone know a good place to look for a pattern one? Could Alternative Autos be a contender?

I do know a place in Cardiff that does great exhausts, but we'll be needing the Panda before next Spring!

Go to infinity exhausts, just outside Bristol. Build bespoke systems for many applications!